On Sat, 31 May 2008 11:50:16 -0400 "Twayne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > > Hash: SHA1 > > > > Warren McLaughlin wrote: > >> Hi, > >> > >> We have a second computer in our home network that is totally reliant > > on Open Office. The issue is that SWriter files attached to emails > > sent from this computer cannot be opened since the receivers mostly > > use MS Word. > >> > >> What advice do we give to such people? Is there a recommended > > procedure for opening ".odt" files under MS Word? > >> > > Advise the recipients to install OpenOffice.org. ;-) > > It's not generally good practice to expect the many to make changes to > accomodate the one. Better if the one accomodates the many and simply > advises the many of other fixes they may wish to look at if/when they > have the time and inclincation due to the consdierable savings involved. > There are still many instances where OOo can not or can not easily > replace Word, so you have to be cautious with over-eager advice, IMO. > > > > > Alternatively, save the documents as PDF files or (if you really must) > > .doc files. > > Could also not be a great idea if the documents being sent are intended > to be edited in any way. Things must be pre-arranged with your audience > IMO. You make very good points. While teaching some courses at Northeastern, I used to publish my syllabus and assignments in PDF since that was universally available. But, today, ODF is not universally available, so if you send out a document in other than PDF, unless you know your audience supports ODF, MS Office .doc, .xls, .ppt formats are more universally readable. There are many cases where you want to retain markups, and allow readers to edit with change tracking turned on. Here you need to use .doc or .odf, but in my experience, most of the editors I have worked with (at HP) are Windows people and don't use OO.o. However we did have a book project where all the contributors were Linux people, and the book project leader mandated Open Office ODF. Some new developments on the ODF -- OOXML issues, India, South Africa, and Brazil have filed official appeals to the process that made OOXML a standard. While OOXML is far from dead, there is more pressure for Microsoft to support ODF. I suspect that if ISO and ECMA decide to withdraw OOXML and present it to the normal acceptance procedure, Microsoft might just drop OOXML as being too costly. The downside could be that they could try to subvert ODF. But, being an optimist, I don't think OOXML is important enough for Microsoft to push through, especially with many countries unhappy about the OOXML issues. It comes under if you can't beat them, join them. -- -- Jerry Feldman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Boston Linux and Unix PGP key id: 537C5846 PGP Key fingerprint: 3D1B 8377 A3C0 A5F2 ECBB CA3B 4607 4319 537C 5846
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